Citizens Invests in Massachusetts Communities by Strengthening the Workforce from the Ground Up

Citizens today announced a series of community investments across Massachusetts focused on strengthening the workforce, beginning with early childhood education and extending to financial empowerment, small business growth, and affordable housing. The effort reflects the bank’s long-term approach to supporting families, stabilizing communities, and expanding economic opportunity across the Commonwealth.

“Creating opportunity starts with showing up—not just with capital, but with partnership and long-term commitment,” said Lisa Murray, Massachusetts State President at Citizens. “Across Massachusetts, we’re investing in workforce pathways that support families and strengthen communities, alongside continued commitments to financial education, small business success and housing stability.”

Key Highlights:

• $5 million investment in Massachusetts workforce development, supporting the YMCA of Greater Boston, Per Scholas Greater Boston, Boston Medical Center Health System, Boston Children’s Hospital, The Possible Zone, and Tech Foundry, as part of a $20 million national commitment.
• $325,000 committed to financial literacy programs in Massachusetts, supporting eight local organizations, including Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (New England Region), Way Finders, and Mothers for Justice & Equality, as part of a $2.85 million enterprise-wide financial education strategy.

Workforce Pathways That Support Families and Neighborhoods

Citizens’ workforce strategy in Massachusetts centers on building skills-first pathways that help people access stable employment while supporting the communities where they live.

As part of that effort, Citizens recently invested $100,000 in the Life is Good Playmaker Project to strengthen the early childhood education workforce. The funding provided more than 100 Boston educators with full scholarships to Playmaker University, expanding access to their trauma-informed, play-based training program that strengthens teacher-child relationships, reduces burnout, and supports social-emotional wellbeing. Together, these educators reach more than 1,000 children across the city, helping create stronger learning environments while supporting working families.

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